Decoding the Dress Code

A formal invitation can read like a foreign language, but the codes are just a volume dial. Black tie asks for a tuxedo or a formal evening gown. Black tie optional lets you swap the tux for a sharp dark suit.

Most people get this backwards. Afraid of standing out, they underdress for the occasion. But at a formal event the rule flips: looking a notch too sharp reads as respect, while looking too casual reads as a mistake.